In this document

Holiday playschemes 2019

Application Guidance and Criteria

Holiday play schemes should:

Provide supervised opportunities for children to play and develop their social and emotional relationships with one another in a safe environment, outside of school times, during the holidays.

Provide play opportunities for children and young people aged between 4 and 14 years and up to 19 years for disabled children and young people and champion the needs of vulnerable children. The playscheme must not be a continuation of existing provision. This must be clearly demonstrated through the application process.

Provide parents with the opportunity to utilise playschemes in the mix of childcare they may use over the summer holidays(blended childcare).

The link below will provide you the information as to whether you need to register with Ofsted.

If you require any further support and advice regarding Ofsted registration please contact the Childcare Sufficiency and Safeguarding Officer (CSSO) on 0116 305 7136.

You may be eligible to register on the Voluntary Childcare Register through Ofsted, which will enable parents to clam the child care tax element of the working families tax credit. Where a provider is able meet the criteria for the voluntary register, you will be able to claim the cost of registration as part of the grant. If you already have an Ofsted registration number it is an expectation that you promote this, thereby enabling parents to access the tax credit.

Ensure that the following documents are up to date and staff/volunteers have read and have the knowledge to implement them and documents are accessible to parents, children, visitors, Ofsted and local authority officers:

The policies that are marked with * need to be included in your application.

*Safeguarding children policy including

*Inclusion

*Equal opportunities policy

*Staff recruitment policy

Complaints procedure

Mobile phone and camera procedures

Accident and incident records book

Registers

Activity plans

Lost child procedure

Uncollected child

Premises risk assessments

Each application should clearly demonstrate how it meets the criteria below:

Geographical factors

Priority will be given to rural areas and areas where there is little or no access to play scheme provision. Where other quality provision exists new schemes should complement this and not affect their sustainability.

Inclusion

Applications should demonstrate how they propose to remove barriers to inclusion. For example how will the playscheme meet the needs of lone parents, looked after children, and young people and children with additional needs. Schemes are encouraged to work with schools and parents with regard to the pupil premium and personal budgets.

There is a form on the website for you to complete if you require any additional funding to help support children with additional needs. This does not necessarily mean that ever child or young person will require full time, one to one, support. You will need to demonstrate how the additional funding will complement existing staffing.

Safeguarding children

Applications are required to show that you understand how you will implement child protection policies and procedures, and must demonstrate how they comply with local safeguarding board procedures.

A joined up approach to support blended childcare

Applications which demonstrate a joined up approach with other organisations will be particularly welcomed. For example, playschemes that link with schools, children’s centres, other existing Private, Voluntary and Independent settings and other services that offer play opportunities.

The panel will also look favourably on other applications that have demonstrated some access to other funding contributions.

Quality of care

Applications must demonstrate through the application process how they provide good quality provision. This will need to include how you have consulted with the children, parents and wider community on what the scheme could provide, and show that there are opportunities for personal, social, and emotional development (PSED), attachment, communication, language and literacy (CLL) and physical play.

Volunteers

There is an expectation that playschemes engage with the local community thus building strong community links. The panel will be looking for those schemes that have shown a commitment to recruiting volunteers. Advice and guidance on this process can be obtained through Voluntary Action Leicester (VAL).

Helpline Phone Number: 0116 2575050

If volunteers are 75% or more of the staff, the Local Authority may be able to grant additional funds to run a crèche for the children of those volunteers.

The holiday play scheme grant WILL NOT fund

Play schemes who have not completed and returned an evaluation form in respect of a grant awarded in the previous year.

Play schemes who intend to create a profit. Any surplus balance will need to be repaid to Leicestershire County Council and cannot be carried forward.

Play schemes that offer a single focus for example sports, religious groups or arts and crafts. However if there is evidence that it meets the need of the community or complements existing provisions the panel will consider the application.

When Play scheme grant funding is applied for to subsidise registered childcare which would normally be open regardless of the funding.

When updated and relevant policies and procedures are not included with the application.